Emotional Reactions to Illness

8/10/2019 Emotional Reactions to Illness

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Emotional Reactions to Illness


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Objectives

What are the normal emotionalreactions by an adolescent to a

new medical problem? What are the normal emotional

reactions by the family to a newmedical problem?

What can a physician do to helpfamily members cope with periodsof distress?


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Responsibilities

How to recognize and treat lowblood sugar (hypoglycemia)

How to recognize and treat high

blood sugar (hyperglycemia) Diabetes meal planning

How to take insulin

How to check blood glucoseand urine ketones

How to adjust insulin and foodwhen you exercise


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The Childhood Adaptation Model toChronic Illness: Diabetes Mellitus


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Emotional Reactions of Children

The diagnosis of chronic disease inchildhood can cause mental shock,stress, sentiments of anger, sorrow,and increased intensity in their

interpersonal relationships.


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Emotional Reactions of Children

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross5 stages of Grief1. Denial2. Anger

3. Bargaining4. Depression5. Acceptance


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Complications

http://youtu.be/WxOuf1hfEng Young Voices: Erin's Life with Diabetes
http://youtu.be/WxOuf1hfEnghttp://youtu.be/WxOuf1hfEnghttp://youtu.be/WxOuf1hfEng


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Family Reactions

Their emotional responses

to the diagnosis have beenlikened to the griefreactions experienced as a

result of bereavementthrough death.


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Family Reactions

A diagnosis of childhood diabetes mayrepresent multiple losses to parents:

loss of the healthy child they thoughtthey had

loss of a certain lifestyle loss of freedom loss of former support systems

a loss of confidence in their ability toprotect their child from danger the potential loss of their child's life


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Chronic Sorrow

Cope well on a day-to-day basis:

worried about issues such asmaturation, reproduction,pregnancy, marriage prospects,possible inheritance factors and

their children's ability to copewith the stress of marriage and afamily.


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Parental Coping Strategies

1. disbelief - tried to reject the child's diabetes by questioning thediagnosis

2. lack of information and guilt- sought reasons fortheir child's diabetes and felt guilty about it

3. learning to care- recognized the demands causedby diabetes and took responsibility for the child's care

4. uncertainty- care to be given to the diabetic child changed thedaily routines of the family

5. reorganization- parents adapt to the diagnosis of diabetes andto the care of their diabetic child

6. normalization- getting back to normal life


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How can a physician help?

Diabetes management plan -takeinto account your child's schedule,skills, preferences, lifestyle, and

growth and developmental needs. Educate - emotional support,

preparation and education

emphasize the importance oftreatment

Recommend a support group

Refer to CDE


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References

Bowes, S., Lowes, L., Warner, J. and Gregory, J. W. (2009), Chronicsorrow in parents of children with type 1 diabetes. Journal of AdvancedNursing, 65: 9921000. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2009.04963.x

Hema, D. A., Roper, S. O., Nehring, J. W., Call, A., Mandleco, B. L. andDyches, T. T. (2009), Daily stressors and coping responses of children andadolescents with type 1 diabetes. Child: Care, Health and Development,35: 330339. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2009.00937.x

Lowes, L. and Lyne, P. (2000), Chronic sorrow in parents of children withnewly diagnosed diabetes: a review of the literature and discussion of theimplications for nursing practice. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 32: 4148.doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2648.2000.01418.x

Seppnen, S., Kyngs, H. and Nikkonen, M. (1999), Coping and socialsupport of parents with a diabetic child. Nursing & Health Sciences, 1: 6370. doi: 10.1046/j.1442-2018.1999.00009.x

Emotional Reactions to Illness

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